1964 Chevy Corvette Sting Ray - The Perfect Pink Pearl

First 396-Powered Sting Ray Built For Chevy Boss' Wife

To many Corvette lovers, the midyears are the real gems. Among them, those that are specially-optioned and those with a distinctive history are even more prized.

2/15

Standing Tall ::: This Pink Pearl '64 Sting Ray was a special Chevrolet Styling/Engineering project by then-Chevy boss Semon "Bunkie" Knudsen for his wife, Florence. Along with the non-standard Pink Pearl paint, other cues that this midyear differs from other '64s are the domed hood, '65-style fender louvers and rocker panel trim, and the "396" fender badges. The pink color scheme extends to the "pinkwall" tires. Behind the three-prong knockoffs are prototype four-wheel disc brakes.

Even more highly treasured are the ones that combine the best of both...and more. Like the Pink Pearl '64 Corvette Sting Ray you see here. This one was specially-built by Chevrolet, with much input from its Engineering and Styling teams. Then-Chevy General Manager Semon E. "Bunkie" Knudsen ordered it up in the spring of 1964 for his wife, Florence.

This car is as much of a gem today as it was when Florence Knudsen first saw it, so says its current owner, Chevy dealer and noted Corvette collector Bob McDorman. "They can't believe it," he says of Corvette lovers who do a double-take when they lay eyes on it. "At first, they think that someone hot-rodded or customized it themselves. If I'm around, I tell them the story behind it-that it was built this way by Chevrolet."

Right away, you can tell it's not a production '64. Six taillights instead of four, the domed hood, and the Pink Pearl paint are the most obvious signs, as is the pink-and-cranberry interior, and the '65-style front fender louvers and rocker panel trim.

Under the hood is a 396-inch near-production version of what our brother-in-law mag, Hot Rod magazine, called "Chevy's Mystery V-8," when they saw it at Daytona in early 1963. Unlike the production 396 that graced the Corvette option list during the latter part of the '65 model run, this one has hydraulic instead of solid lifters. The transmission is a Powerglide, likely the first one ever bolted to a Mark IV big-block that wasn't a Chevy Engineering test mule, and the only one ever fitted by Chevrolet to a 396-powered Sting Ray.

To accommodate the 396, more than a few one-off and prototype parts were fabricated by Chevy's engineers as part of the project, which received the "GPV-61" project designation (and whose specially-made items carry the "0-" part numbers of an engineering special). Those include a front crossmember modified to clear the big-block's harmonic balancer, a modified right inner fender (again, for clearance), specially-fabricated front springs to handle the extra weight of the 396 over the production 327, a specially-fabricated radiator, and handmade fiberglass fan shroud.

MORE PHOTOS

VIEW FULL GALLERY

xclose

1964 Chevy Corvette Sting Ray - The Perfect Pink Pearl

Standing Tall ::: This Pink Pearl '64 Sting Ray was a special Chevrolet Styling/Engineering project by then-Chevy boss Semon "Bunkie" Knudsen for his wife, Florence. Along with the non-standard Pink Pearl paint, other cues that this midyear differs from other '64s are the domed hood, '65-style fender louvers and rocker panel trim, and the "396" fender badges. The pink color scheme extends to the "pinkwall" tires. Behind the three-prong knockoffs are prototype four-wheel disc brakes.

Out Back ::: Bet you thought the six taillights were owner-installed, didn't you? This '64 Sting Ray was built with them from the get-go.

No Trunk ::: Under the new-for-'64 one-piece rear glass is this cranberry-colored carpet.

Feminine Office ::: The interior received as much attention as the engine bay and body, with special pink leather upholstery and cranberry-colored carpets and trim.

Boost Me ::: Another prototype piece fitted to Florence Knudsen's '64 Sting Ray is the dual-circuit power brake booster, which became a production piece for 1965.

Special Badge ::: Just one of the prototype items on Florence Knudsen's '64 Sting Ray is this "396" fender badge.

Dash Attack ::: Pink leather wasn't on the Corvette option list in 1964, but it was picked for this car to match the colors of then-Chevy Boss Knudsen's winter home. The pink-and-cranberry colors extend to the dash and console. The transmission's a Powerglide-the only one ever fitted by Chevrolet to a 396 Corvette.

Redline ::: A 5,500-rpm redline means this Corvette is built more for style than for speed, and indicates the hydraulic camshaft-equipped engine.

In this feature article CORVETTE FEVER takes a look at the writings of former Chevrolet top executive Bunkie Knudsen who chronicled the exciting development of the '60s Corvettes in his diary - Corvette Fever Magazine » Read More

In this feature article we take a look at this 1963 Chevrolet Corvette roadster which is the last Corvette designed by Harley Earl and also was owned by the prolific GM designer - Corvette Fever Magazine » Read More